AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2496, 24 June 1915, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

THE MILITARY CONTRACT SCANDAL KIDMAN CONVICTED SEVERE COMMENT FROM THE BENCH. (Roc. June 23, 9.00 p.m.) By Telegraph—Press Aecocialitm—Copyright Sydney, June 'S3. At the High Court the trial was concluded of Arthur Kidman, charged with forging a tender in the name of C. .Brown, to supply goods to the military authorities, with the intention of having the document accepted as genuine. The tenders were cailcd for supplies of meat and groceries for tho German concentration camp. Edward Simes, a carcass butcher, whose name was on one of the tenders signed, gave evidence that he had authorised Kidman to use his name on tho tenders, but the attached signature was not his. He never had anything to do with tho carrying out of the tenders. One contract in his name was carried out by Kidman, witness doing nothing beyond signing itAlfred James, a printer, whose name was attached to a tender, said that he did not know Kidman, nor had he authorised anyone tc sign a tender for him. Kidman, in a lengthy statement, said that ho had been for twenty-seven years tendering for Government supplies, during which there had been no trouble. Ln regard to tho disputed tenders, ho had arrived at tho Tender Office at eleven o'clock—tenders closed at noon — and put in the tenders in his own name. Then, after somo conversation with gentlemen who had interests in other tenders, lie thought that his might bo too high, and put in others in order to have a second chance. That practice, ho understood, was common in Australia. ln a hurry he had used names at random. In every case the tenders were genuine, and would have been carried out if accepted. 'Ihero was no intention to injure' or defraud tho Commonwealth. The Chief Justice, in summing tip tho case, said that it was an important matter, because it concerned contracts for use in the dcfenco of the Empire. If some interested person took advantage of such si state of things to exploit the public for his own profit, ho deserved public reprobation, if nothing else. It was admitted by the 'accused that he had made tho document, and uttered it. Tho question to be considered was whether it was a false document. It was false if it purported to be made on behalf of a person who had not given aiiy authority, to auy or nonexistent person. The object of calling tenders was to get gemiino offers, obtain fair competition, and avoid favour. Kidman was found guilty. Sentence was deferred.

GERMAN WAR LEAFLETS IN CIRCULATION DEFENCE MINISTER'S WARNING. Melbourne, June 23. Notwithstanding tho Government's precautions Germans in America are still circulating war leaflets in Australia. The Minister of Defence (Senator Pearce) advises all finding the leaflets to destroy them. VOX POPUI.I. AN OUTCRY WHICH CLOSED A NEW RAILWAY STATION. (Rec. June 23, 9.60 p.m.) Sydney, June 23. Recently a new railway station was opened at Milson's Point, with the objects of obviating a dead-end and separating the railway from the ferry traffic, at a cost of £30,000, and substituting awkward overhead bridges for level landing, and other serious inconveniences. This led to a great Press and publio outcry, resulting in the abandoning of the new station, traffic reverting to the old station. FOOD SUPPLIES IN NEW SOUTH WALES. STATE MEAT' SHOPS. Sydney, June 23. At the nest meeting of the New South Wales Cabinet, the Chief. State Secretary (Mr. G. Black) will present a scheme for the establishment of a State meat shop, to supply the public with meat at a cheap rate. In the Assembly, tho Attorney-Gen-eral (Mr. D. R. Hall) stated that he had made inquiries as to the cost of importation of sugar, and found that he could import, from black labour, sugar at £22.per ton, but he preferred to keep the Colonial Company's employees at work at a cost of an extra 30s. per ton. Mr. Bagnall alleged that the butter shortage had been' deliberately produced by over-exportation. The export of butter was more than double that of the previous year. He suggested a special Council of Ministers to deal with the food problem. SMUCCLING CHINESE INTO AUSTRALIA. THREE ORIENTALS FINED. Sydney, June 23. Three of the Chinese charged with assisting in the smuggling in of their countrymen have been fined £100 each, in default nine months' imprisonment. [Four Chinese were remanded oh a charge of assisting in the smuggling in of their oountrymen. The prosecution alleged that the Federal authorities were on the track of a big system, but had not concluded the necessary inquiries.] ITEMS IN BRIEF. SYDNEY'S POLICEWOMEN. Sydney, June 23. The policewomen appointed are Misses Lilian Armfield, of the nursing staff at Callan Park, and Mnnd Marian Rhodes, inspector in the Children's Relief Department. EARLY CLOSING FOR NEW SOUTH WALES HOTELS. Sydney, Jnne 23. In the Assembly, Mr. Carmichacl pave notice of motion for the taking of a referendum on tho advisability of the early closing of hotels. SETTLEJrTCNT LANDS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. Sydney, June 23. The Minister of Lands (Mr. W. G. Ashford) has announced that the Government is opening two million acres of land for settlement. AUSTRALIA DAY MOTHERS' FUND. Sydney, June 23. The Minister of Education is appealin"' to school children to outdo their own record for ilid Heteian children hv raising money for the Mothers' £30.000 Fund in connection with Australia Day.